The Government of Kenya, through the Ministry of Roads and Transport and the Kenya Airports Authority (KAA), has issued a tender to construct a new airport facility at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) and upgrade existing infrastructure in response to growing capacity pressures at the country’s primary international gateway.
JKIA serves as Kenya’s main international airport and a regional aviation hub supporting both passenger and cargo operations. Its role as the hub for Kenya Airways positions it as a key driver of national and regional connectivity. However, the airport is currently experiencing congestion during peak operating periods across the runway system, passenger terminal facilities and apron areas, limiting operational efficiency and its ability to accommodate future growth.
To address these challenges, KAA commissioned an Integrated Master Plan and Feasibility Study for JKIA, completed in February 2026. The study identified a phased development strategy aimed at enhancing existing infrastructure while simultaneously expanding capacity to accommodate long-term traffic growth.
The initial phase focuses on improvements to existing terminal and runway infrastructure to address immediate and short-term demand pressures. In parallel, longer-term expansion measures are planned to support future passenger and cargo growth.
According to the capacity optimisation study, JKIA handled approximately 8.93 million passengers in 2025, exceeding its designed capacity of about 7.5 million passengers annually. The airport currently operates with a single runway and a terminal complex that has expanded incrementally over time, resulting in space and circulation constraints.
Traffic forecasts prepared as part of the master planning process project significant long-term growth. Passenger numbers are expected to increase from 8.93 million in 2025 to approximately 22.31 million by 2045, representing an average growth rate of 4.6 percent. Air cargo volumes are also forecast to expand substantially, rising from 407,214 tonnes in 2025 to 860,400 tonnes by 2045.
The analysis identified multiple infrastructure constraints affecting the airport’s future operations. These include limited runway capacity without operational redundancy, insufficient aircraft stands and apron space, passenger terminal congestion affecting service levels and comfort, and increasing congestion on landside access roads.
To address these challenges, the planned upgrade programme includes improvements to the existing runway and the development of a partial parallel taxiway to enhance airfield circulation. Two rapid exit taxiways and a runway end exit taxiway will also be constructed to reduce runway occupancy times and improve landing efficiency.
Passenger terminal facilities will be reconfigured, optimised and selectively expanded to address near-term operational bottlenecks. Passenger processing systems, including check-in, security screening, immigration and baggage handling, will also be digitised and modernised to improve processing efficiency and service levels. Vehicle parking facilities will be optimised to improve capacity and circulation.
In addition to these upgrades, a new passenger terminal will be developed to accommodate an additional 10 million passengers annually, with provision for further expansion as demand increases.
The project will also include the development of new taxiways, aprons and aircraft support facilities, as well as upgrades to essential aviation infrastructure, including air traffic control facilities, firefighting stations, cargo facilities, maintenance areas, fuel infrastructure and utility services. Landside access roads will be upgraded to improve connectivity and reduce congestion, and additional parking facilities will be constructed to serve the new passenger terminal.
Beyond aviation infrastructure, KAA plans to develop an Airport City and a Special Economic Zone (SEZ) around JKIA to position the airport as a fully integrated aviation-led economic hub.
The SEZ is intended to support high-value, time-sensitive and export-oriented industries, including air cargo logistics, agro-processing, pharmaceuticals, light manufacturing, e-commerce fulfilment and regional distribution activities. The development is designed to leverage JKIA’s role as Kenya’s primary international cargo gateway.
The Airport City component will accommodate commercial developments such as business parks, corporate offices, hotels, convention and exhibition facilities, aviation support services, educational facilities and mixed-use developments, creating an integrated economic zone centred on the airport.
According to the Ministry, the combined Airport City and SEZ developments are expected to generate employment, attract domestic and international investment, diversify airport and national revenue streams and provide economic benefits to surrounding communities.
The government described the expansion and upgrade of JKIA as a strategic national initiative intended to meet Kenya’s future aviation requirements, improve service quality and maintain the airport’s position as a leading regional aviation gateway.
The Ministry of Roads and Transport and the Kenya Airports Authority stated that the project will be implemented transparently and that stakeholders and the public will be kept informed as the development progresses.
